Internet of things device state and instruction execution

ABSTRACT

A method, computer program product, and system includes a processor(s) intercepting an instruction, upon receipt on the instruction, by the one or more processors in the computing device on a communications network, prior to execution of the instruction by the processor(s) in the computing device. The processor(s) determines a state of the computing device and based on the state of the computing device and a portion of the instruction, the processor(s) determines that the instruction is precluded from executing on the computing device.

BACKGROUND

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computingdevices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals and/or peoplethat are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transferdata over a network, without requiring human-to-human orhuman-to-computer interaction. These communications are enabled by smartsensors, which include, but are not limited to, both active and passiveradio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, which utilizeelectromagnetic fields to identify automatically and to track tagsattached to objects and/or associated with objects and people. Smartsensors, such as RFID tags, can track environmental factors related toan object, including but not limited to, temperature and humidity. Thesmart sensors can be utilized to measure temperature, humidity,vibrations, motion, light, pressure and/or altitude. Because the smartsensors carry unique identifiers, a computing system that communicateswith a given sensor can identify the source of the information. Withinthe IoT, various devices can communicate with each other and can accessdata from sources available over various communication networks,including the Internet.

SUMMARY

Shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages areprovided through the provision of a method for precluding an instructionfrom executing on a computing device. The method includes, for instance:intercepting, by the one or more processors in a computing device, aninstruction, upon receipt on the instruction, by the one or moreprocessors in the computing device on a communications network, prior toexecution of the instruction by the one or more processors in thecomputing device; determining, by the one or more processors, a state ofthe computing device; and based on the state of the computing device anda portion of the instruction, determining, by the one or moreprocessors, that the instruction is precluded from executing on thecomputing device.

Shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages areprovided through the provision of a computer program product forprecluding an instruction from executing on a computing device. Thecomputer program product comprises a storage medium readable by aprocessing circuit and storing instructions for execution by theprocessing circuit for performing a method. The method includes, forinstance: intercepting, by the one or more processors in a computingdevice, an instruction, upon receipt on the instruction, by the one ormore processors in the computing device on a communications network,prior to execution of the instruction by the one or more processors inthe computing device; determining, by the one or more processors, astate of the computing device; and based on the state of the computingdevice and a portion of the instruction, determining, by the one or moreprocessors, that the instruction is precluded from executing on thecomputing device.

Methods and systems relating to one or more aspects are also describedand claimed herein. Further, services relating to one or more aspectsare also described and may be claimed herein.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesdescribed herein. Other embodiments and aspects are described in detailherein and are considered a part of the claimed aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimedas examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. Theforegoing and objects, features, and advantages of one or more aspectsare apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a physical environment illustrating certain aspects of anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a workflow illustrating certain aspects of an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of certain aspects of an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of a computing node that can be utilizedin a cloud computing environment;

FIG. 4 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 5 depicts abstraction model layers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification,further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detaileddescription of the invention, serve to explain the principles of thepresent invention. As understood by one of skill in the art, theaccompanying figures are provided for ease of understanding andillustrate aspects of certain embodiments of the present invention. Theinvention is not limited to the embodiments depicted in the figures.

As understood by one of skill in the art, program code, as referred tothroughout this application, includes both software and hardware. Forexample, program code in certain embodiments of the present inventionincludes fixed function hardware, while other embodiments utilized asoftware-based implementation of the functionality described. Certainembodiments combine both types of program code. One example of programcode, also referred to as one or more programs, is depicted in FIG. 3 asprogram/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implementedmethod, system, and computer program product that include one or moreprograms, executed by at least one processor, for evaluatinginstructions received by an IoT device to determine, based on the stateof the device, whether the instructions should be executed. In someembodiments of the present invention, the one or more programs mayexecute on the IoT device itself In other embodiments of the presentinvention, the one or more programs execute on a device in communicationwith the IoT device. For example, a group of IoT devices may receivedata regarding whether to execute a given instruction from a centralservice. For illustrative purposes, aspects of embodiments of thepresent invention can be envisioned as an evaluation layer that operatesas an intermediary between when an IoT device receives an instructionand when the IoT device executes the instruction.

An advantage of certain aspects of embodiments of the present inventionis that by effectively creating an intermediate (e.g., evaluation) layerbetween receipt of instructions and execution of instructions in an IoTdevice, the one or more programs in embodiments of the present inventionthat evaluate each received instruction protect a device from takingactions at times where those actions would be detrimental, but do enablethese same actions at other times. Therefore, the efficacy andreliability of a given IoT device is increased because of thissafeguard. This advantage is inextricably tied to computing at leastbecause this aspect improves the functionality of an IoT device byimplementing specific functionality that evaluates the effect ofinstructions on a given device and enables execution of the instructionat appropriate times. By evaluating instructions in accordance with ahierarchy of rules, one or more programs in embodiments of the presentinvention enable a given IoT device to execute certain commands, atcertain time, but will not enable that device to execute other commands,at other times. Aspects of embodiments of the present inventionconstitute an improvement in device security because the addedprocessing from receipt to execution of a given instruction provides asecurity advantage that serves to limit hacking of IoT devices.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide certain advantagesover existing systems related to IoT devices. For example, certainsystems that relate to the functionality of IoT devices are limited togathering input from other devices that share the same subscriber(phone) number. Embodiments of the present invention can take input frommultiple devices and multiple types of devices, and one or more programsexecuting on a given IoT device can utilize these inputs when decidingwhether to limit actions based on the current state of the IoT device.Some embodiments of the present invention can be installed as standalonesystems to set states of devices and subsequently limit execution ofinstructions based on the state, while existing systems related to IoTdevices rely upon multiple sources and do not include standaloneembodiments or functionality. Certain embodiments of the presentinvention provide security advantages over existing IoT control systemsbecause these embodiments enable the changing of an IoT device stateexclusively through one or more programs executing on the IoT device onin an isolated portion of the device to which access is limited (e.g., adevice change module). Additionally, in embodiments of the presentinvention, rather than a device state triggering an action, based on thestate, one or more programs prevent actions from being executed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates certain aspects of embodiments ofthe present invention. In this figure, certain functionality isattributed to certain portions (e.g., layers) of embodiments of thepresent invention. However, this separation of functionality is offeredmerely for illustrative purposes and not to limit the structure of animplementation of an embodiment of the present invention.

As seen in FIG. 1, in an IoT device 100, one or more programs thatevaluate an instruction 105 received by the IoT device 100, form anevaluation layer 120. In an embodiment of the present invention, one ormore programs of an evaluation layer 120 intercept an instruction 105upon receipt (e.g., by program code in a receiving layer 110) and priorto execution of the instruction (e.g., by program code in an executionlayer 130).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the IoT device 100, one or more programscharacterized for illustrative purposes as a receiving layer 110,receive an instruction 105 (or more than one instruction), and pass thisinstruction to one or more programs in the evaluation layer 120. The oneor more programs in the evaluation layer 120 determine whether theinstruction should be executed by the IoT device. If the one or moreprograms in the evaluation layer 120 determine that the instruction 105should be executed, the one or more programs in the evaluation layer 120pass the instruction 105 to one or more programs in an execution layer130, for execution. If the one or more programs in the evaluation layer120 determine that the instruction 105 should not be executed, the oneor more programs in the evaluation layer 120 can reject the instruction105, delete the instruction 105, or queue the instruction 105 for futureexecution, or to provide log data. Although in FIG. 1, the evaluationlayer 120 is portrayed as being on an IoT device, in some embodiments ofthe present invention, the decision-making, which is illustrated in FIG.1 as occurring on the device 100, in the evaluation layer 120, can occurremotely from the device 100, with the resultant decision regardingwhether to execute an instruction 105 being transmitted to the device100, as input from a central service (not pictured).

In embodiments of the present invention, the one or more programs in theevaluation layer 120 (or one or more programs that are part of a centralservice) determine whether to allow the instruction to execute in theIoT device 100 based on a number of factors, including but not limitedto, the instruction itself, the parameters of the IoT device, the stateof the IoT device, and/or the state of a second IoT device or othercomputing resource in communication with the IoT device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more programs canadditionally set an IoT device 100 to a given state. When the device isin the given state, the one or more programs in the evaluation layer 120determine whether to enable an instruction 105 to execute based on thestate. By setting a device to a given state, the one or more programsprevent the execution/processing of certain instructions/actions on thedevice, for the duration of the time that the device is in the givenstate. In an embodiment of the present invention, one or more programs(e.g., in the evaluation layer 120) can limit the actions the devicetakes (e.g., the commands and instructions that the device executes),based on the state of the device. Thus, the one or more programs may ormay not pass an instruction 105 to be executed (e.g., at the executionlayer 130) based on the device state. The one or more programs may setthe IoT device 100 to a given state based on receiving data from varioussources, including but not limited to: one or more IoT devices and/or awebsite/interface (e.g., weather, traffic). While in this state, the oneor more programs may reject certain types of instructions 105 and/orcommands.

In embodiments of the present invention, the one or more programs in theevaluation layer 120 include a rules engine 125. In FIG. 1, the rulesengine 125 is pictured as located on the device itself, however, inadditional embodiments of the present invention, some or all of thecontents of the rules engine 125 are not located on the IoT device 100itself but are accessible to the device 100 over a communicationsconnection.

Returning to FIG. 1, the program code in the evaluation layer 120utilizes the rules engine 125, which includes a hierarchy of rules, todetermine which instructions 105 (e.g., commands) can be executed whenthe device 100 is in a given state, and which instructions 105 cannot beexecuted when the device 100 is in the given state. Thus, based on therules engine 125, the one or more programs allow the device 100 toexecute certain commands (e.g., by passing them to the execution layer130), but not others, while queueing and/or ignoring rejected/ignoredcommands. In some embodiments of the present invention, the rule basedengine 125 stores the state of an IoT device 100 and the state ischanged exclusively in the rule based engine 125. In another embodimentof the present invention, the rules based engine 125 on the device 100is the only place that a state can be changed, though it can be storedelsewhere in the IoT device 100 or in a memory external to butaccessible to the device 100. Limiting the access to a state of thedevice 100, and the ability to change the state, is a deterrent to andsafeguard against hacking.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the rules engine 125 mayinclude rules conditioned upon additional data 135 available from otherIoT devices and/or other computing nodes accessible from the IoT device100. For example, an IoT device 100 is a blind on a window in a day modeor state. The rules engine 125 dictates that in this state, the blindremains open unless sunlight hitting the window exceeds a certainintensity. Thus, when this IoT device 100 receives an instruction 105 toclose the blind (i.e., shift to a closed position), based on determiningthat the IoT device 100 is in day mode, the one or more programs in theevaluation layer 120 determine whether to execute the instruction. Theone or more programs make this determination in part based upon thesunlight intensity level, which the one or more programs can obtain froma smart sensor on the window. If the sunlight does not exceed thecertain intensity, the evaluation layer 120 rejects the instruction 105.

Sources for additional information for use by the rules engine 125 mayalso include websites and another example of a type of additional data135 is weather information. In some embodiments of the presentinvention, the additional data 135 utilized by the rules engine 125 mayinclude an externally provided list of overrides that can beincorporated into the rule based engine. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, one or more programs obtains, as a service, additionalinformation that includes a list of instructions to reject. Because thedevice in an IoT device 100, it can utilize data collected by customizedand strategically placed sensors, as well as communications betweencomputing devices over a communications network, such as the Internet.Thus, embodiments of the present invention use IoT sensors to gatherdata.

As aforementioned, IoT devices refer to computing devices that form theIoT, which is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical anddigital machines, objects, animals and/or people that are provided withunique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network,without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.Aspects of embodiments of the present invention may prove particularlyuseful to certain types of IoT devices. For example, an IoT device maybe the braking interface in an automobile. This automobile may beoperating at a high speed, for example, at seventy (70) miles per hour,and the braking interface, e.g., the IoT device 100, may receive aninstruction 105 to brake, e.g., at a receiving layer 110. However, oneor more programs, e.g., the evaluation layer 120, received data from oneor more other IoT devices indicating that the weather conditions are notclear and that the roads are slick. As aforementioned, IoT devicesincludes sensors which can provide this type of environmentalinformation either automatically or upon being polled by one or moreprograms in the IoT device 100. Based on receiving this information, insome embodiments of the present invention, the one or more programsplace the braking interface in a state where emergency braking isdisabled, based on the environmental information, as emergency brakingcould be dangerous given these conditions. Thus, should the brakinginterface receive an instruction 105 to brake while this IoT device 100is in this state, one or more programs in the evaluation layer 120 wouldreject this instruction 105. An instructions to a braking system that isan IoT device 100 could come from a device that is external to thevehicle with this braking system and could be sent for nefariouspurposes. Thus, by placing the braking system in a state that rendersthe vehicle unresponsive to emergency braking request that wouldendanger the vehicle and the safety of those in the vehicle, the presentinvention enhances the security of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention can also be integrated intopersonal healthcare systems. For example, an IoT device 100 may includean insulin pump. With this device, the best interests of a patientdictate that the pump should provide insulin to the patient at aconsistent rate and uninterrupted, provided that glucose levels of thepatient remain in a given range. Thus, in this embodiment of the presentinvention, one or more programs in the insulin pump IoT device 100receive continuous glucose readings, and based on the consistency ofthese readings, place and maintain the IoT device 100 in a mode in whichinsulin is administered continuously and at a consistent rate. While theinsulin pump remains in this state, when one or more programs receive aninstruction 105 to change the operation of the pump, one or moreprograms (e.g., the evaluation layer 120) executing on the IoT device100 reject this instruction 105 and/or queue the instruction 105 forexecution when the IoT device 105 is in a state that is compatible withexecuting this instruction 105.

FIG. 2 is a workflow 200 of aspects of some embodiments of the presentinvention. In an embodiment of the present invention, one or moreprograms executed by a processing circuit in an IoT device obtain aninstruction (210). The instruction may be the result of a manual inputinto the device by a user or it may be received over a network, such asthe Internet, from another computing node, including but not limited to,one or more additional IoT device(s).

The one or more programs check the state of the device (220). In anembodiment of the present invention, the device state may be maintainedin a module and/or memory resident on the physical IoT device, in orderto limit the ability to change the state. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, the one or more programs are the only programs thatare authorized to access the state and/or change the state.

Based on the state of the device, the one or more programs determinewhether to enable the IoT device to execute the instruction (230). Asexplained above, the one or more programs may make this determinationbased on a hierarchy of rules available on the IoT device, as well asbased on additional information. The nature of the additionalinformation is discussed above. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, one or more programs configure the IoT device with a set ofpredefined rules and the one or more programs determine whether toenable the IoT device to execute the instruction (230), based on thesepre-defined rules. The one or more programs can configure the rules onthe IoT device itself and/or in a separate database that is accessibleto the one or more programs determining whether to execute aninstruction (230).

Based on determining that the instruction cannot be executed by the IoTdevice (e.g., at the requested time), the one or more programs rejectthe instruction (240). In an embodiment of the present invention, theone or more programs notify the originator of the instruction that theinstruction did not execute. In an embodiment of the present invention,rather than rejecting the instruction, the one or more programs mayqueue the instruction, for later execution, for example, should the oneor more programs modify the state and the new state does not precludeexecution of the instruction. In this situation, the one or more programmay notify the originator of the instruction of the delay.

In an embodiment of the present invention, certain instructions that areprecluded by the state of a given IoT device, can be enabled by the oneor more programs, provided that the instructions are resident among alist of overrides. In an embodiment of the present invention, the one ormore programs receive a list of overrides as a service and cancontinuously update data regarding overrides that is used in decidingwhether a given instruction can execute when the IoT device is in agiven state.

Returning to FIG. 2, in certain an embodiments of the present invention,one or more programs change the state of a device based on receivingadditional data (250). In an embodiment of the present invention, thestate is stored in a module on the device itself and is changed on thedevice itself, by the one or more programs. Provided that the one ormore programs queued rejected instructions, based on the state change,the one or more programs may evaluate each queued instruction and decidewhich can be executed, based on the new state. Returning to the exampleof a braking system, an initial device state causes the one or moreprograms to reject instructions for emergency braking, at a given speed.The one or more programs set this initial state based on receiving datafrom other IoT devices or computing nodes indicating dangerous roadconditions. Based on the one or more programs subsequently receivinginformation regarding favorable changes in the road conditions, the oneor more programs may modify the state of the device. In the new state,the one or more programs enable emergency braking instructions.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a user shifts the stateof a device using voice commands. For example, when an IoT device is ina state transition freeze, a user records various commands. When thestate of the device is no longer frozen, the recorded commandstransition the IoT device to a new state.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic of an example of a computing node,which can be a cloud computing node 10. Cloud computing node 10 is onlyone example of a suitable cloud computing node and is not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality ofembodiments of the invention described herein. Regardless, cloudcomputing node 10 is capable of being implemented and/or performing anyof the functionality set forth hereinabove. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, the IoT device 100 (FIG. 1), can be understood ascloud computing node 10 (FIG. 3) and if not a cloud computing node 10,then one or more general computing node that includes aspects of thecloud computing node 10.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 3, computer system/server 12 that can be utilized ascloud computing node 10 is shown in the form of a general-purposecomputing device. The components of computer system/server 12 mayinclude, but are not limited to, one or more processors or processingunits 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18 that couples various systemcomponents including system memory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detaileddescription on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recitedherein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter). Rapid elasticity:capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some casesautomatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quicklyscale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioningoften appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at anytime.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 includes one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 4 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 5, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 4) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 5 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may include applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and rejecting an instruction 96.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”,when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, areintended to include any structure, material, or act for performing thefunction in combination with other claimed elements as specificallyclaimed. The description of one or more embodiments has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain variousaspects and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:intercepting, by one or more processors in a computing device, aninstruction, upon receipt on the instruction, by the one or moreprocessors in the computing device on a communications network, via thecommunications network, prior to execution of the instruction by the oneor more processors in the computing device; determining, by the one ormore processors, a state of the computing device is a first state,wherein the state of the computing device is accessible only to the oneor more processors; based on the computing device being in the firststate and a portion of the instruction, determining, by the one or moreprocessors, that the instruction is precluded from executing on thecomputing device based on referencing a hierarchy of rules stored on amemory; based on the determining that the hierarchy of the rulesprecludes execution of the instruction, queuing, by the one or moreprocessors, the instruction on a memory in the computing device whilethe computing device is in the first state; changing, by the one or moreprocessors, the state of the computing device from the first state to asecond state; based on the computing device being in the second stateand a portion of the instruction, determining, by the one or moreprocessors, that the queued instruction is allowed to execute on thecomputing device; and automatically transmitting, by the one or moreprocessors, the queued instruction, from the memory, for execution onthe computing device, wherein the queued instruction is executed uponreceipt from the transmitting.
 2. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the hierarchy of rules is only accessible to processesexecuted on the one or more processors of the computing device.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: setting, bythe one or more processors, the state of the computing device to thefirst state, wherein the setting comprises: receiving, by the one ormore processors, from a portion of a system of interrelated computingdevices, mechanical machines, digital machines, and objects comprisingsmart sensors, communicatively coupled to the computing device over thecommunications network, data defining conditions impacting viability ofthe computing device; and configuring, by the one or more processors,the state of the computing device to the first state, to mitigate aneffect of the conditions on the viability of computing device, whereinthe state of the computing device maps to one or more rules in thehierarchy of rules, wherein the one or more rules define instructionsprecluded from execution, when the computing device is in the firststate.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, whereinconfiguring the state of the computing device to the first state is in arule based engine, and wherein the memory in which the hierarchy ofrules is stored comprises the rule based engine.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the changein the state of the computing device from the first state to a secondstate comprises: receiving, by the one or more processors, from aportion of a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanicalmachines, digital machines, and objects comprising smart sensors, datadefining conditions impacting viability of the computing device; andre-configuring, by the one or more processors, the state of thecomputing device to set a new state, wherein the new state is the secondstate, wherein the new state mitigates an effect of the conditions onthe viability of computing device, wherein the new state of thecomputing device maps to a rules hierarchy defining instructionsprecluded from execution, when the computing device is in the firststate.
 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, whereindetermining that the queued instruction is allowed to execute on thecomputing device further-comprises: based on the new state of thecomputing device and a portion of the queued instruction, determining,by the one or more processors, that the queued instruction is notprecluded from executing on the computing device.
 7. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein receiving the datadefining conditions impacting viability of the computing devicecomprises receiving the data intermittently, in a service executing onthe communications network.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim1, further comprising: identifying, by the one or more processors, anoriginator of the instruction; and notifying, by the one or moreprocessors, the originator of the instruction of a delay in executingthe instruction based on the computing device being in the first state.9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determiningthe queued instruction is allowed to execute on the computing devicefurther comprises: mapping, by the one or more processors, the secondstate to the hierarchy of rules; and determining, by the one or moreprocessors, that the hierarchy of the rules allows execution of thequeued instruction when the computing device is in the second state. 10.The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the data definingconditions impacting viability of the computing device compriseconditions external to the computing device.
 11. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy of rulescomprises an externally provided list of overrides incorporated into arule based engine, and wherein determining that the hierarchy of therules precludes execution of the instruction when the computing deviceis in the first state further comprises verifying that the instructiondoes not match any of the overrides.
 12. A computer program productcomprising: a computer readable storage medium readable by one or moreprocessors and storing instructions for execution by the one or moreprocessors for performing a method comprising: intercepting, by the oneor more processors in a computing device, an instruction, upon receipton the instruction, by the one or more processors in the computingdevice on a communications network, via the communications network,prior to execution of the instruction by the one or more processors inthe computing device; determining, by the one or more processors, astate of the computing device is a first state, wherein the state of thecomputing device is accessible only to the one or more processors; basedon the computing device being in the first state and a portion of theinstruction, determining, by the one or more processors, based on ahierarchy of rules stored in a memory, that the instruction is precludedfrom executing on the computing device; based on the determining thatthe hierarchy of the rules precludes execution of the instruction,queuing, by the one or more processors, the instruction on a memory inthe computing device while the computing device is in the first state;changing, by the one or more processors, the state of the computingdevice from the first state to a second state; based on the computingdevice being in the second state and a portion of the instruction,determining, by the one or more processors, that the queued instructionis allowed to execute on the computing device; and automaticallytransmitting, by the one or more processors, the queued instruction,from the memory, for execution on the computing device, wherein thequeued instruction is executed upon receipt from the transmitting. 13.The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computing devicecomprises an Internet of Things computing device.
 14. The computerprogram product of claim 12, wherein the hierarchy of rules is onlyaccessible to processes executed on the one or more processors of thecomputing device.
 15. The computer program product of claim 12, themethod further comprising: setting, by the one or more processors, thestate of the computing device to the first state, wherein the settingcomprises: receiving, by the one or more processors, from a portion of asystem of interrelated computing devices, mechanical machines, digitalmachines, and objects comprising smart sensors, communicatively coupledto the computing device over the communications network, data definingconditions impacting viability of the computing device; and configuring,by the one or more processors, the state of the computing device to thefirst state, to mitigate an effect of the conditions on the viability ofcomputing device, wherein the state of the computing device maps to oneor more rules of the hierarchy of rules, and wherein the one or morerules define instructions precluded from execution, when the computingdevice is in the first state.
 16. The computer program product of claim15, wherein configuring the state of the computing device to the firststate, comprises configuring in a rule based engine, wherein the memorystoring the hierarchy of rules comprises the rule based engine.
 17. Thecomputer program product of claim 12, wherein the state is changedexclusively in the memory.
 18. The computer program product of claim 12,wherein determining the change in the state of the computing device fromthe first state to a second state comprises: receiving, by the one ormore processors, from a portion of a system of interrelated computingdevices, mechanical machines, digital machines, and objects comprisingsmart sensors, data defining conditions impacting viability of thecomputing device; and re-configuring, by the one or more processors, thestate of the computing device to set a new state, wherein the new stateis the second state, wherein the new state mitigates an effect of theconditions on the viability of computing device, wherein the new stateof the computing device maps to a rules hierarchy defining instructionsprecluded from execution, when the computing device is in the firststate.
 19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein determiningthat the queued instruction is allowed to execute on the computingdevice further-comprises: based on the new state of the computing deviceand a portion of the queued instruction, determining, by the one or moreprocessors, that the queued instruction is not precluded from executingon the computing device.
 20. A system comprising: a memory in acomputing device; one or more processors in the computing device incommunication with the memory; and program instructions executable bythe one or more processors via the memory to perform a method, themethod comprising: intercepting, by the one or more processors in thecomputing device, an instruction, upon receipt on the instruction, bythe one or more processors in the computing device on a communicationsnetwork, via the communications network, prior to execution of theinstruction by the one or more processors in the computing device;determining, by the one or more processors, a state of the computingdevice is a first state, wherein the state of the computing device isaccessible only to the one or more processors; based on the computingdevice being in the first state and a portion of the instruction,determining, by the one or more processors, based on a hierarchy ofrules stored in the memory, that the instruction is precluded fromexecuting on the computing device; based on the determining that thehierarchy of the rules precludes execution of the instruction, queuing,by the one or more processors, the instruction on the memory in thecomputing device while the computing device is in the first state;changing, by the one or more processors, the state of the computingdevice from the first state to a second state; based on the computingdevice being in the second state and a portion of the instruction,determining, by the one or more processors, that the queued instructionis allowed to execute on the computing device; and automaticallytransmitting, by the one or more processors, the queued instruction,from the memory, for execution on the computing device, wherein thequeued instruction is executed upon receipt from the transmitting.